Raymond comments on South Bend schools
By ALYSON TOMME
News Writer
Alarmed by the condition of South Bend schools, the superintendent of the South Bend Community Schools Corporation outlined continuing and future difficulties of public education Monday afternoon.
Joan Raymond focused on issues of integration and curriculum of public schools in her lecture entitled "The Status of American Public Education."
"Twenty years ago, the theory was that it was not a fair, equitable education," Raymond said regarding the separation of races in schools. "The issue today is not racial balance, it is instructional equity."
Many students commute to other schools that are more academically favorably than their local schools.
"Today, there are 13,000 students on buses, twice day," she said. "Children become disassociated with their neighborhood school."
Busing students to achieve a racial balance is not a new phenomenon, but Raymond pointed out that in today's society it prevents parents from attending teacher conferences and prohibits many children from participating in extracurricular activities.
Instead of spending money to reach a racial balance, funding needs to aid basic academic skills.
"This district has the worst test scores I've ever seen. If children were blindfolded, they couldn't get any lower," she said. "The goal is to get all schools on the same page."
The Title I program, which provides support for economically disadvantaged children, is a prime example of what is wrong in South Bend, according to Raymond.
"The concern is that it's different in all schools," said Raymond. She believes standardizing the curriculum of the Corporation is the answer.
Currently, teachers have complete freedom in deciding on their instructional approach and with the high mobility of students in South Bend, they are not guaranteed to be on a level playing field with students from another school.
South Bend, then, is aiming to align with the Indiana academic standards and standardize across the Corporation.
"Whatever we come up with, it will be better. Now, we have nothing," Raymond said.
With the hype of Bush's recent education plan, Raymond pointed out inconsistencies she sees in the program. The Bush plan gives states more control over their education system, allowing them to make their own plans, yet it provides for national accountability testing.
"An administered test is no way to treat a child," Raymond said. "I worry about the dumbing down of the curriculum."
Moreover, under Bush's plan, test scores would control funding. "The worst your scores, the more money you get for mediation. For the schools that don't do well, funding is suspended," Raymond said. "I think high stakes testing is too limited."
Besides instructional equity and national education reform, Raymond discussed other problems plaguing the nation's schools.
"Discipline is a terrible problem," she said.
Every week, she receives letters and comments regarding the lack of discipline within schools. Numerous expulsions occur each year in South Bend schools, and with the Supreme Court's permissiveness in students' rights' cases and a general breakdown of respect for authority, the expulsion rate is not improving. South Bend presently is researching alternative programs, such as a life choices night course and after school jobs with local businesses.
Keeping an updated and developed staff is another difficulty. Teachers often cannot keep up with the increase of technology.
"Many teachers are lagging behind because they haven't received the appropriate training," Raymond said.
In addition, the infrastructure of many school buildings nationwide is simply too old. Maintaining school sites and complying with construction codes are often huge hurdles for a district to overcome.
Raymond said, "At the very least, what I can do is make sure the expenditures, staff and supplies are there. I can make sure the indicators of quality are equitable."
Raymond has been a public educator for 43 years. She received her doctoral degree from Northwestern University.
All News Stories for Tuesday, February 13, 2001
